Mumbai's Oscar Castellino's song 'Rise to Mars' named anthem of Red Planet

Mumbai vocalist Oscar Castellino's composition 'Rise to Mars' that has been named 'Mars Anthem' will be released online this month. The Mars Society, which happens to be the world's largest advocacy organisation for the Red Planet has given Castellino's song this honour.

The anthem will be the cynosure of all eyes at Oscar Castellino's California performance at the Society's 20th annual convention.

According to The Times of India, Castellino, who studied physics at St Xavier's College, contacted Dr Zubrin, president of the Mars Society, after which he learnt that they were looking for an anthem. Dr Zubrin is also a driving force behind the 'Mars Direct' design, which was adapted by NASA for its Mars mission.

31-year-old Oscar Castellino, whose family hails from Assagao in Goa, was discovered by the British-Indian soprano Patricia Rozario in 2011. He was a software analyst then.

Castellino is currently on scholarship at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

The Mars Society premiered the anthem in June at Cardiff, Wales with Castellino as a distinguished baritone, accompanied by the REPco Sinfonia.